With the Carabins, Guy-Frank Essome Penda broke everything. The soccer player — and engineer — now hopes to repeat his exploits…surrounded by volcanoes.
Posted at 5:00 a.m.
Welcome to Auckland United FC, New Zealand.
“When I arrived with the team, everyone was super warm and welcoming, says Essome Penda in a virtual interview with The Press. I have everything I need so that I can perform well and evolve on the field, but also outside of it. »
Everything has smiled on the 26-year-old forward in the past year. He completed his master’s degree in computer engineering at Polytechnique. In addition to being named in quick succession player par excellence of the Carabins, the Quebec Student Sports Network (RSEQ) and the Canadian university circuit in 2021.
It was his extra-time goal against the Rouge et Or that sent Les Bleus to the final last fall. Then, it was his strike in the shootout that offered the national title to his team.
In short, he ended his university sports career on a high. Why did he choose New Zealand to pursue it among the professionals?
“It’s a combination of circumstances,” he explains, as the first rays of New Zealand’s early morning pierce the screen. “At the end of the Canadian championship, Marie L’Allier [son agente] offered me his help. At that time, I was choosing what I wanted to do next. »
Because he was “in huge doubt”, he recalls.
“I was maybe considering continuing in the Canadian Premier League (PLC). At the same time, my girlfriend chose to do her doctorate in education in New Zealand. So I had to make a choice. »
He says he received a few offers in PLC, that he had even “started the process at the beginning of the year”. But there was also his career as an engineer which was taking off.
“Marie helped me contact people in New Zealand, at Auckland United. From that moment, my energies were devoted to this project.
In Auckland, he continues to work for the Montreal company Innocap, of which he has been employed since 2019. “It’s been working very well so far,” he says, despite the 4 p.m. shift.
Add this experience to son luggage
Guy-Frank Essome Penda has been living with the Kiwis for a month. In Auckland, he says he marvels at the “magnificent views of almost the entire city” and “volcanoes here and there”.
Then he tells us an anecdote that marked him. At his club this time.
“Here, after home games, the club provides dinner for both teams, and both teams sit at their tables. Before dinner begins, each of the coaches will take a moment to talk about the game, to congratulate the other team, and vice versa. Let’s say it was a shock for me, because I had never experienced this before. »
Essome Penda started for the first time last Saturday, a “bit lucky” 3-3 draw against Takapuna.
He notes a higher level than the Canadian university circuit, but which does not quite reach that of the PLC.
It’s a semi-professional league, but the organization makes me believe that it could very well be a professional league.
Guy-Frank Essome Penda
“The club took care of my accommodation, they provided me with a car to get around to training. They paid for my plane ticket. »
Auckland United play in the Northern Regional League, New Zealand. There are two others: that of the Center, and that of the South.
The season is divided into two phases. The first is the one currently playing. At the end of the 22 days of the championship, the first 4 in the North standings qualify for the National League, while 3 teams from the Center and 2 from the South will join them.
After 18 games, Auckland are in a good position to progress to the second phase of the season, the so-called National League, which is the highest level of New Zealand soccer. The top two teams from this league qualify for the Oceania Champions League.
Guy-Frank Essome Penda does not yet know how long this New Zealand stopover will last.
“It’s about four years that are planned”, according to the doctorate of his girlfriend. “Afterwards, it’s a bit too early to say how long I’ll stay here. We’ll see how it evolves. »
“I absolutely believe that this experience will help me to go further. »